Thousands of employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are facing layoffs and leaves as the Trump administration moves to reduce the agency’s size. Recently, 4,080 staff members were put on leave, and an additional 1,600 workers are set to be let go.
USAID has been a major focus of President Trump’s efforts to streamline the federal government. Both Trump and his advisor, Elon Musk, have criticized the agency’s programs, claiming they don’t align with their agenda. They have also suggested, without evidence, that USAID’s operations are wasteful. This approach to cutting the agency’s budget has been unusual because it has not gone through Congress, which usually oversees such changes and provides funding.
A report from the Congressional Research Service noted that congressional approval is needed to make significant changes to USAID, yet there has been little to no pushback from the Republican-controlled Congress. With the administration planning to cut more than 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts, much of its funding is on the chopping block.
It’s not clear how many of the affected employees work in Washington, but the agency has announced plans for them to collect their belongings. A notice on their website provided instructions for employees to retrieve their items, which included a strict security screening process. Those let go were told they could only spend 15 minutes at their desks and were reminded not to bring weapons of any kind.
Many former employees have expressed frustration at how these actions are being handled. Additionally, various lawsuits aim to challenge the administration’s approach, though attempts to halt the layoffs have not been successful so far.
A recent court order required the Trump administration to release billions in U.S. foreign aid, which has been frozen since his first day in office due to his belief that many programs were inefficient. This freeze has sparked legal action from nonprofit groups concerned about the impact on international assistance.
Virginia Rep. Gerald Connolly criticized the treatment of USAID workers, labeling it “unwarranted and unprecedented.” He emphasized the agency’s vital role in saving millions of lives through its global development efforts.
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Source linkDonald Trump, U.S. Agency for International Development, Elon Musk, Labor, Gerry Connolly, John Roberts, Department of Government Efficiency, General news, Government and politics, Washington news, District of Columbia, Washington News
